Ngmoco Games and Plus+ Support
Ngmoco established itself as a pioneer in the early mobile gaming era, creating a diverse library of titles that integrated with Plus+, a social networking layer designed to enhance the gaming experience. From fast-paced shooters to relaxing kingdom builders, Ngmoco's portfolio showcased the versatility of early smartphone hardware.
Key Facts
- All games published by Ngmoco support the Plus+ social integration.
- The library spans multiple genres, including First-Person Shooters (FPS), Tower Defense, and social simulation.
- Ngmoco utilized hardware-specific features, such as the iPhone's accelerometer.
- The company produced several successful sequels and localized versions of its popular titles.
Action and Competitive Gaming
Ngmoco ventured into high-energy competitive play with titles like Eliminate Pro (2009), a Quake-style death match First-Person Shooter (FPS)—a genre where players view the action through the eyes of their character. This title featured various add-ons that provided free power cells to players.
To expand the experience, Ngmoco released Eliminate CO-OP in 2010. This free extension allowed two players to team up in cooperative matches against AI-controlled robots across any version of Eliminate Pro.
Other early action and arcade titles include Dropship (2009), Dr. Awesome (2008), and GodFinger (2010).
Puzzle and Strategy Titles
The studio experimented with unique control schemes and strategic gameplay. Rolando (2008) utilized the iPhone's accelerometer—the sensor that detects tilt and motion—to move characters through missions, drawing comparisons to the PlayStation Portable title LocoRoco. This was followed by Rolando 2: Quest for the Golden Orchid in 2009.
In the strategy realm, Star Defense (2009) offered a three-dimensional tower defense experience, where players must strategically place defenses to stop waves of enemies.
Puzzle enthusiasts were served by Charadium (2010), a Pictionary-style drawing game, and the Word-Fu series (2009), which included a standard version and Plus+ editions in English, French, and Japanese.
Social Simulation and Casual Play
Ngmoco also entered the social gaming market with We Rule (2010), developed in partnership with newtoy. Similar to FarmVille, this game tasked players with building and managing their own kingdom. The success of this formula led to the development of sequels, We Farm and We City.
Rounding out the casual library were titles such as Topple (2008), Topple 2 (2009), MazeFinger (2008), and Touch Pets: Dogs (2009).
Ngmoco Game Catalog Summary
| Game Title | Release Year | Genre/Style |
|---|---|---|
| Eliminate Pro / CO-OP | 2009 / 2010 | FPS / Death Match |
| Rolando 1 & 2 | 2008 / 2009 | Accelerometer-based Puzzle |
| We Rule / Farm / City | 2010+ | Kingdom/Social Simulation |
| Star Defense | 2009 | 3D Tower Defense |
| Word-Fu Series | 2009 | Word Puzzle |
| Charadium | 2010 | Pictionary-style |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Ngmoco games support Plus+?
All games published by Ngmoco support Plus+ integration.
What was the gameplay style of Rolando?
Rolando involved using the iPhone's accelerometer to tilt the device and move characters to complete specific missions.
What is Eliminate CO-OP?
Eliminate CO-OP is a free extension to Eliminate Pro that enables two-player cooperative matches against AI Robots.
Which games were similar to FarmVille?
We Rule, along with its sequels We Farm and We City, followed a kingdom-building style similar to FarmVille.
Was Word-Fu available in multiple languages?
Yes, Word-Fu Plus was released in English, French, and Japanese in 2009.